Boxing dummy



Oct. 20, 1959 E. L. FORTNEY 2,909,370

BOXING DUMMY Filed Dec. 22, 1958 INVENTOR.

EL ZA L. FORTNEY BY TTORNEY United States Patent BOXING DUMMY Elza L. Fortney, Salinas, Calif.

Application December 22, 1958, Serial No. 782,333 Claims. (Cl. 272-76) This invention relates to a boxing dummy, sometimes referred to as a boxing automaton, used for training in boxing. I I

This application relates to my application Serial Number 660,568, filed May 21, 1957, now abandoned.

The invention contemplates a dummy having a torso, legs, arms and head built upon a framework, preferably of metal, using padding material such as quilting,'foam rubber, or other suitable material, the exterior being covered with leather or other material that will provide a durable exterior surface for the dummy.

It is an object of my invention to provide a boxing dummy that is suitable for the training of boxers, and particularly boys or young trainees, in the art of defending themselves against counter blows which an opponent may deliver coincident with the blowsstruck by the trainee. To this end I provide a mechanism by which when the dummy is struck on the head, both its gloves are moved outwardly and/or upwardly toward the trainee simultaneously with any backward push given to the head of the dummy by the practicing trainee. I

Another object is to provide for a rotational movement of the dummys head whereby the head and face of the dummy are turned in a sidewise direction oppositely from the direction of a side blow to either side of the dummys head delivered by the trainee, and from which sidewise movement the dummys head will immediately return to its normal or frontwise position.

Another object is to provide a dummy which will rotate or turn about a vertical axis through the dummys body when a blow is delivered to either side of a median line on the dimmy, head or torso, thereby affording still greater variation in the work out when a trainee practices on the dummy.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the ensuing description and appended claims.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and is described in detail here.- inafter. The particular constructions herein shown and described are to be construed as illustrative only,1and not as limiting the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the framework of the dummy and showing also the outer shape of the dummy.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism by which the vertical bar on which the head of the dummy is built is mounted to the horizontal framework between the shoulders of the dummy.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the shoulder joints showing the main details thereof.

Referring to the drawings, two upright bars have their lower ends embedded in a concrete base 11 and extend upwardly therefrom to constitute the two leg frame members of the dummy or automaton. These leg bars may be suitably bent so that the legs of the dummy which are built about and upon these bars may simulate the triangle.

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2 any desired foot and leg position a boxer may take. illustrated in Figure l, the right leg of the dummy is approximately straight and the left leg, being in a forward position, is slightly bent at the knee. The said base 11 is preferably triangular in plan view, with the tworods 10 mounted therein near two of the apexes of For the position of the dummy as shown in Figure 1 the third apex of the triangular base is rearwardly from or behind the dummy, since by this arrangement the forward edge of the base 11 would be the least in the way of the left or lead foot of a trainee whois facing and practicing with the dummy. The base 11 may have other suitable shapes. The base 11 is provided with a vertical hole through its center so that it may rotate about a bolt 12 which is secured in a floor piece 14, a nut 13 being provided to hold the base 11 and floor piece 14 together, particularly when the dummy is lifted for transporting to another location. Ca'stors or rollers 1'5 are suitably mounted on the lower side of the base 11 to provide for easy rotation of the base 11 upon the floor piece 14. Ap-

propriate gliders may be substituted for the rollers or 'castors, if desired.

I prefer to have it present for then there is greater assurance that an appropriate floor surface will be had for the base 11 to rotate upon when the dummy is moved from one location to another. lt is desirable that a non-skid material be provided on the lower surface of the floor piece 14' to assure that the latter will remain in place if the surface on which it rests is slippery or quite smooth. Concrete is preferred for the base 11 because of ease in construction and the convenient anchorage which it affords for the rods 10. Moreover, its weight gives desirable stability to the entire dummy device.

The rods 10 extend upwardly, each as one continuous and 'rigid member along each side of the torso of the dummy and terminate at approximately shoulder level. A horizontal bar 18 is positioned across the torso at the upper ends of bars 10 and is bent downwardly at each shoulder and continues as one rigid bar to constitute the two arm frame members 16, said arm members bing appropriately bent, both at the shoulder and elbow positions, so that the arms of the dummy which are built about the arm portions of this continuous rod may simulate desired arm and hand positions a boxer may take. Bolts or pins 17 are secured to the arm frame members 16 and appropriately protrude therefrom for assistance in building fist-like members on the ends of the rods, or for assistance in tying boxing gloves in place at the ends of the dummys arms.

It is an essential feature of my invention that the arm frame members 16, including the forearm and hand portions thereof, and the aforesaid horizontal bar 18 which extends from shoulder to shoulder across the upper ends of upright bars 10 shall be one continuous and rigid bar.

Positioned around the horizontal bar 18 are two sections of pipe which constitute sleeves 19, and a pipe T 23. The inner ends of the sleeves 19 are in rigid threaded engagement with the said pipe T, and each of said sleeves is adjacent the end of one of the upright bars 10, with the end of the bar 10 intermediate the two ends of the sleeve, the stem of the pipe T being midway between the two shoulders of the dummy. The two sleeves 19 and the run portion of the pipe T 23 thus constitute one continuous sleeve or elongated collar around the horizontal bar 18 extending between the approximate shoulder positions of the dummy. With the stem of the pipe T 23 in approximately a vertical position, and with the arm frame members 16- in the desired positions, this said collar is rigidly secured to the bar 18, by welding one or more of the two sleeves 19 and the T 23 to the bar 18, or by other suitable means, so that the bar 18 and sleeves 19, together with T 23, all constitute one rigid piece. The upper ends of the bars are formed with a concave surface which conforms to the curvature of the outer surface of sleeves 19, as shown in Figure 3. The ends of each of the bars 10 thus constitute bearing surfaces on which the sleeves may turn or rotate. A strap 20 is positioned around each sleeve 19 and is secured to bar 10 by bolt 21 and nut 22, the said straps permitting rotation of the sleeves 19 while holding them in proper position on the bearing surface at the top of bars 10 as the horizontal bar 18 is rotated or turned about its longitudinal axis. Other arrangements may be employed by which the horizontal bar 18 may be permitted to rotate (i.e., to turn about its longitudinal axis) with respect to the ends of the upright bars 10. For example, the inner ends of sleeves 19 need not be in threaded engagement with or otherwise secured to the pipe T 23, but in that event both of the sleevm 19 and also the pipe T 23 should each be separately welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bar 18 so that the bar 18, the sleeves 19 and the T 23 all constitute one rigid member. Another arrangement, when the sleeves 19 are not in engagement with the ends of T 23, would be to weld or otherwise rigidly secure the sleeves 19 to the ends of bars 10 and have the inside diameter of the sleeves such that the bar 18 would turn or rotate freely within the said sleeves. In this event the straps 20 might be omitted, or they could serve to assist in holding the sleeves 19 rigidly secured to the bars 10. This last described manner of construction, wherein the bar 18 turns within the sleeves 19, may be employed when the bar 18 is a round rod. The first described manner of construction, wherein the sleeves 19 are rigidly secured to bar 18 and the sleeves turn in the concave surfaces at the upper end of bars 10, is convenient when the bar 18 is non-circular in crosssection, such as steel reinforcing rods used in concrete structures, which latter type of rod I prefer to employ for the entire main framework of my boxing dummy (i.e., for bars 10 and the continuous bar which is cor1- stituted by the arm frame members 16 and horizontal bar 18.

A pipe bushing 24, preferably having a smooth inside bore, is in rigid threaded engagement with the stem of pipe T 23. A pipe 25 (or other suitable rod-like member) having a nut 26 threadedly secured to its lower end, and with its lower end resting on bar 18, extends upwardly through the pipe bushing 24. The diameter of pipe 25 is such that the pipe can freely rotate within the said pipe bushing. A coiled spring 27, positioned around pipe 25 has one end secured to the pipe bushing 24 and the pipe 25, the said spring being of such strength that when the head portion of the dummy built upon and secured to pipe 25 is turned sidewise in either direction, the stress created in the said spring will return the head to its normal position. The said pipe 25 constitutes the neck and head supporting member of my boxing dummy, the length of the pipe 25 being such that the neck and head-like portion of the dummy may be built upon and around the said pipe. A metal strap 28, which may consist of so-called plumbers tape or other suitable material, is secured in any appropriate manner to pipe 25 and serves as an aid in anchoring and holding in proper position the packing or padding material used in building up the head portion of the dummy. Any desired number and arrangement of straps 28 may be employed. Similarly, straps 2 9 are positioned around bars 10 in any desired number throughout the torso portion of the dummy to serve bo 3.5 la e bracing for the upright bars 10 and for anchoring the padding material used for building the torso of the dummy.

The size and dimensions of the various members constituting the framework of the dummy may be varied at will. I prefer to employ one-half inch reinforcing steel rods for bars 10 and for the arm frame members. For the neck and head member 25 I have used one-half inch pipe. The pipe T 23 and bushing 2.4 are of any suitable size in accordance with the size of the bar 18 and pipe 25; and the size of the sleeves is chosen in accordance with the size of bars 10 and 18.

Any suitable padding material may be employed for building the torso, limbs and head portions of the dummy upon the described framework, such as quilting, foam rubber, etc.

It will be noted that the framework for the legs and torso portion of my boxing dummy is rigid up to the shoulder level; and that this rigid framework is rigidly fixed to the base 11. The only moving parts of theentire framework of the dummy are the horizontal bar 18 (to which the arm members 16 are rigidly secured) and the pipe or rod 25 (on which the head portion of the dummy is built). The dummy as a whole, including its base 11, is rotatable about the vertical axis which extends through pivot pin or bolt 12.

The operation of the device is as follows: When a trainee facing the dummy delivers a blow to the head of the dummy, one of the horizontal components of the force of that blow acts upon the pipe or rod 25 and moves the head of the dummy rearwardly. This rotates the horizontal bar 18 which in turn moves the gloves or glove-like bodies on the ends of the arms 16 upwardly in front of the trainee who: is practicing on the dummy, thereby forcing the trainee to protect himself from being struck by said gloves, by using his other arm as a guard against the upwardly moving dunmty gloves or by trying to slip backwards and/or sidewise out of the way of the dummys arms and gloves, and/or by other appropriate movements. Thus the trainee obtains practice which simulates closely that which he would get in practicing against another live boxer, or in an actual contest with a live boxer. Immediately after the blow is delivered against the head of the dummy, the weight of the arm frame bars 16, together with the weight of the dummys arms and gloves, and their moment of force acting on the fulcrum which lies in the bearing by which the horizontal bar 18' is mounted on rods 10, overbalances the opposing moment of force exerted by the tilted head portion of the dummy so that the head returns to its normal upright position. The resiliency of the padding material in the neck portion of the dummy may assist in returning the head piece to its normal position. When the blow delivered by a practicing boxer is delivered to one side or the other of the median line of the dummys face, the lateral component of the force of such blow acts to turn the dummys head about the vertical axis through pipe 25, thus moving the head to a sidewise position. The resilience of spring 27 then comes into action to rotate the head piece back to its normal position, regardless of which direction the head piece was turned by the head blow. This adds variation to the practice obtained by a trainee in using the dummy. The fact that the base 11 is rotatable about the pivot pin 12 adds further variation during a work-out of bars each having one end rigidly secured to said base and extending in an upward direction therefrom to constitute the leg frame members of said dummy; said bars continuing upwardly from the leg portions of said dummy to constitute a frame member within the torso of the dummy; said bars terminating within said torso at the level of the arm-to-shoulder joints of said dummy; a shaft positioned across the upper ends of said bars; bearing means by which said shaft is journaled to the ends of said bars to turn about its longitudinal axis; an arm frame member rigidly secured to each end of said shaft; a bar extending upwardly from a point intermediate the ends of said shaft to constitute a head frame member of said dummy; and mounting means for securing the lower end of said head bar to said shaft by which movement of said head bar in revolution about said shaft turns said shaft in said bearing means about its longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mounting means for said head bar contains swivelable means by which said head bar can be turned in rotation about its own longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 with the addition of a coiled spring positioned about said head bar, said spring having one end anchored to said head bar and the other end held in fixed relationship to said shaft, said spring being adapted to return said head bar, together with the head portion of the dummy aflixed to said head bar to its normal position when said spring is stressed by rotation of said head bar in either direction due to a blow directed against either side of the median line of the head of said dummy.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 with the addition of spring means by which said head bar is returned to the normal position when rotated therefrom due to a blow directed against either side of the median line of the head of said dummy aflixed to said head bar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a portable floor piece adaptedto support said base; a vertical hole in said base; a pin fixed in said floor piece and extending upwardly through said hole in said base to constitute a pivot about which said base may rotate; and rollers on the lower face of said base adapted to roll over said floor piece when said base is turned about said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,796 Lindsley Nov. 13, 1906 1,250,905 Liljegran Dec. 18, 1917 1,716,678 Attanasio June 11, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 433,405 Germany Aug. 28, 1926 600,059 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1948 139,412 Australia Nov. 14, 1950 

